Tuk-Tuks and Transformation — One Tanzanian Tour Company is Turning Tourism into a Lifeline

By Adonis Byemelwa

In the foothills of Mount Meru, deep within Tanzania’s northern tourist circuit, a quiet revolution is underway. It’s not about flashy resorts or luxury safaris—it’s about who gets to benefit from the billions tourism brings in. And at the center of this change is Tanzania Specialist, an Arusha-based tour company redefining what responsible travel looks like.

On a crisp morning this May, Arusha’s narrow streets pulsed with life as 130 Dutch tourists hopped into a fleet of buzzing Bajajis—those nimble, three-wheeled tuk-tuks that weave effortlessly through Tanzanian traffic. Their destination? The legendary Serengeti. But before they even left the city limits, something extraordinary happened: tourist dollars started flowing directly into local hands.

Seventy Bajaji drivers were hired for that single tour. For them, it wasn’t just another job—it was a rare chance to be part of the tourism economy that too often bypasses people like them.

“Tanzania Specialist’s initiative is invaluable,” said Danny Singo, one of the drivers, his smile as bright as the Arusha sun. “For once, we’re not just watching tourists pass us by—we’re part of their journey.”

And that’s exactly the point. For Tanzania Specialist, this isn’t a PR stunt. It’s a business model grounded in inclusion and dignity. By embedding locals into the fabric of the tourist experience, the company is ensuring that the benefits of tourism don’t evaporate at the gates of luxury lodges.

Safety remains front and center. Working hand-in-hand with local police, Tanzania Specialist has created a seamless, secure, and uniquely Tanzanian experience—one where authenticity doesn't compromise comfort. “Our Bajaji tours give tourists a chance to truly connect with Arusha’s essence, its sights, and its people,” said Nathaniel Maduga, the company’s transport officer. “It’s about bringing humanity back into travel.”

Industry watchers are taking note. Experts have hailed the model for placing people, not just places, at the heart of the tourism equation. In a region where the numbers often dazzle but the disparities linger, that focus is nothing short of radical.

Consider this: Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, a 300 km stretch that draws some 700,000 visitors annually, generates nearly $950 million. Yet only 18%—around $171 million—actually benefits surrounding communities. The rest? It vanishes into global supply chains, high-end tour operators, and foreign-owned businesses.

But Tanzania Specialist’s approach is shifting that balance, one ride at a time. Managing Director Epimark Mndevu is driven by more than profit margins. For him, this is personal. “We’re correcting historical inequities,” he said. “Our mission is to ensure that every tourist we host helps change someone’s life here, at the grassroots level.”

And it doesn’t stop with Bajajis. Cultural tourism is the next frontier. Mndevu sees untapped potential in storytelling, food, music, and community heritage—rich, immersive experiences that can’t be bought, only shared. “Cultural tourism is our untapped horizon,” he explained. “It opens doors for locals to be hosts, guides, and ambassadors of their own stories.”

The data backs this up. A study by SNV titled Tracing the Tourist Dollar in Northern Tanzania found that climbing Mount Kilimanjaro delivers more direct benefits to low-income communities than most other attractions. Around 28% of the $50 million generated annually by 56,000 climbers—about $14 million—reaches disadvantaged communities, mostly through wages and tips to porters and guides.

These are people like Mwita, a Kilimanjaro porter who once farmed subsistence crops and now pays school fees for his children from the income he earns leading trekkers up Africa’s highest peak. Every dollar a tourist spends becomes a dollar that might buy medicine, fund a business, or build a home.

It’s that kind of impact that Tanzania Specialist aims to replicate citywide—and eventually nationwide. In a world where tourism often deepens inequality, this Tanzanian company is offering a different path—one paved with purpose, driven by dignity, and steered, fittingly, by a Bajaji.